Can opener key and strip guide



' Nov. 6, 1956 c. H. TURBETT CAN OPENER KEY AND STRIP GUIDE Filed April 23, 1953 ATTORNEXS United States Patent Office $522 .21

2,769,567 CAN OPENER KEY AND STRIPIGUIDE Clyde H. Turbett, Harrisburg, Pa.

Application April 23, 1953, Serial No. 350,611

1 Claim. 01. 220-52 This invention relates to a can opener key and strip guide for use in severing and winding a'strip of metal from a can to be opened, and aims generally to improve the construction and operation of devices of this type.

At the present time, many products, such as coffee, are vacuum packed in cans to preserve the flavor, aroma, and the like, until they are opened and used by the consuming public. These cans are designed to be opened by the ultimate user by means of a can key, usually secured to the bottom of the can. The user removes the key, inserts the end of the strip through an opening therein, then turns the key, usually in a clockwise direction, to sever the strip and wind it thereon. While this would appear to be a very simple operation, it is actually very diflicult to wind the strip so that successive turns of the coil arealigned and lie flatly against each other. As a result, the coils are usually imperfectly formed and the sharp edges of the strip project outwardly from the faces of the coil to cut the unwary. Even when considerable care is used, the fingers of the user may slip with consequent injury.

Various attempts have been made to overcome these difficulties and disadvantages, one such attempt involving the use of a U-shaped strip guide, formed of wire, and having the ends of the legs looped around the shaft of the key. Such devices, however, are not entirely satisfactory for the purpose, since the legs of the guide tend to spread, thereby permitting the strip to be wound non-uniformly. Furthermore, such a device does not serve to guide the strip onto the coil during the initial stages of winding, since the guide extends forwardly and the strip is initially wound on the rearward portion of the coil. As a' result, unless the axis of the key is maintained at right angles to the strip, which is definitely not assured with a device of this kind, the strip will not be wound uniformly so that one edge thereof will project beyond the face of the coil. This presents a definite hazard to the user, since the rear of the coil is unprotected in any way, and if the fingers of the user slip and come into contact with the sharp edges of the strip, injury will inevitably follow.

It has also been proposed to use a strip guide comprising a piece of wire bent into the form of. a U, the legs of the U being reversely bent at two points and one of said bends forming a cradle in which the shaft 'or body of the key is designed to rest. A disadvantage of this type of guard is that as the coil'be'comes larger, the body or shaft of the key rises upwardly out of the cradle with the result that the guide is no longer effective to perform its intended function. In addition, it has been found that the wire legs are very easily spread so that they are generally not effective to insure uniform winding of the coil. Another disadvantage of such devices is that they cannot be permanently associated with the key since the augularly disposed portions thereof would prevent stacking of cans during shipment thereof in cartons or containers.

The principal object of the present invention is theprovision of a combined can opening key. and strip guide, which is simple and economical in construction and highly effective in use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a 2 combined can opening key and strip guide which will-positively assure uniform Winding of the severed metal strip and which will act as a guard to protect the hands and fingers of the user against possibleinjury during the severing and winding operation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a combined can opening key and strip guide which may be attached to the bottom of a can in the usual manner and which, when so secured, will not have any portion thereof projecting beyond the usual peripheral flange surrounding the bottom to thereby prevent stacking of the cans.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a strip guide having sufiicient strength and rigidity to insure uniform winding of the strip Without spreading of the legs thereof.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a strip guide having oppositely disposed parallel portions adapted to be disposed adjacent opposite faces of the coil along a diameter thereof as it is being wound.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, taken with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the device shown operatively applied to a fragment of a vacuum type can.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the device at an intermediate stage of winding.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the combined can opener key and strip guide.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the device.

The combination can opening key and strip guide of the invention is designed for use with a vacuum type can such as used in the vacuum packing of coffee and other commodities. A fragment of such a can is shown in the drawing and generally designated by the numeral 10. Such cans are conventionally formed with a double wall portion adjacent the top thereof, the outer wall being designated herein by the numeral 11 and the inner wall by the numeral 12. A top closure 13 is secured to the outer Wall 11 and abutts the rolled top 14 of the inner wall 12. The can is also provided with the usual bottom (not shown) surrounded by a peripheral flange which projects therebelow.

Such cans are also conventionally equipped with can opening keys which are secured to the bottom of the can within the peripheral flange. When it is desired to open the can, the key is removed from the bottom, the end of the metal strip inserted through the opening therein, and the key turned to sever the strip and wind it into a coil. When the strip has been completely severed, the top, or closure 13, may be removed to gain access to the contents of the can. The portion of the wall 11 above the severed strip becomes a part of the top closure 13 and assists in sealing the can after it has once been opened.

The device of the present invention comprises a can opening. key 18, permanently rotatably associated with a strip guide 19. The key 18 may be of a conventional type comprising a handle 20 and a shaft or body 21 having a flattened offset end portion 21a for attachment to the bottom of a can. Intermediate the ends thereof, the body or shaft 21, is flattened, as at 22, and such flattened portion is provided with an elongated opening 23 for receiving the end of a metal strip 24.

The strip guide 19 may be formed from a single strip of sheet metal, for example, 28 gage galvanized sheet iron, and comprises a U-shaped portion 25, having at one edge thereof a flanged portion 26. The flanged portion 26 extends laterally from the U-shapedportion 25 substantially at right angles, thereto so that the cross-sectional shape of the member19 is like an angle iron. The legs 27 of the U-shaped member 25, are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the metal strip and are provided intermediate-their ends withopenings 28 for receiving the body or shaft 21 of the key 18.

The apertured flattened portion 22 of the key 18 is disposed between the legs.27 and as the metal strip is wound thereon into the form of a coil, the inner flat faces of the legs will closely confine and guide the oppo-.

The legs 27 extend laterally site side faces of the coil. outward on both sides of the shaft 21 in diametrically opposite directions and to a distance somewhat greater than the maximum diameter of the coil to be formed, thereby insuring that the coil will be guided throughout the entire winding operation. The legs 27 are relatively wide for maximum support and guiding of the coil, but should not exceed the depth of the peripheral flange at the bottom of the can as this would prevent stacking of the cans when the device of the invention is secured to the bottom thereof in the usual manner.

In the manufacture of the device, the key 18 is formed in the usual manner except that the shaft is not flattened and apertured at this time. The strip guide 19 is preferably formed' from a sheet metal blank in suitable dies which formthe angle and the u-shaped bend in a single operation. The holes 28 may be formed at any convenient stage of the operation but are preferably drilled in the blank before the shaping operation is initiated. The shaft of the key is then inserted through the openings 28 following whiehthe flattened portions 21a and 22 are formed in any suitable manner, and the portion 22 apertured, as shown at 23.

In the modified form of the device shown in Fig. 6, the'position or the strip guide 19 on the'shaft 21 of the can key is reversed but the arrangement and detailed structure of the parts are otherwise the same. As will be be noted, in this form of the device, the connected portions 'of the legs 27 extend forwardly and the terminal portions rearwardly.

OPERATION The combination key and strip guide of the invention may be secured to the bottom of the can in the usual or any suitable manner. Since the legs of the strip guide 19 are straight and are less in width than the depth of the peripheral flange surrounding the bottom of the can, it will be apparent that when the device is so positioned, it will not interfere'iwth stacking of the cans.

When it is desired to open the can, the device is removed from the bottom thereof, and positioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, with the legs of the U astride the strip to be severed. When so positioned, the flanges 26 rest on the side wall 'of the'can, the free ends of the legs 27 are disposed forwardly in the direction of projected movement, and the bight portion 30, connecting the opposite ends of the legs, is disposed rearwardly of the projected direction of movement. which conventionally projects from the side wallof the can, is then inserted into the opening 23 following which the key is rotated to sever the strip and wind it into a coil.

During the winding operation, the opposed inner faces of the legs 27 lie closely'adjacent the sides of the coil to insure proper winding'thereof. Thus, as the strip is severed, it passes. rearwardly and upwardly on the coil between the portions of the legs 27- which extend rear wardly from the shaft 21 of thekey. This insures that the strip is initially wound on the coil in superposed aligned relationship with the previous windings. This takes place even though the key is canted at an angle with respect to the strip since the legs 27, as reinforced by the flanges 26, have suflicient strength andrigidity to resist any distortion or displacement thereof laterally. In the use of the device, therefore, his not necessary to The end of the metal strip 24,

jfimaintain. the legs ,27 in alignment with the strip 24 and hence, once the winding operation is started, the user does not even have to look at the device since correct and proper winding of the strip is automatically assured.

. As the winding progresses and the coil becomes larger, the strip guide 19 tilts upwardly to the inclined position shown in Fig. 4. In suchposition, the legs 27 still afford maximum supporting and guiding effect on the'coil by virtue of being maintained in a position across the diameter thereof. When the metal strip is completely severed from the can, the combined key and strip guide, with the coil Wound thereon is then disposed of in any suitable manner.

By virtue of insuring symmetrical winding of the coil so that no sharp edges protrude, the improved strip guide of the invention reduces considerably the possibilities of injury to the usersfof such devices. The possibility of injury is further reduced with the present device by virtue of the fact that the U-shaped member 25' covers a sub stantial portion of the sides and rear of the coil as it s being formed. Hence, even in the event theusers finger slips, it will engage someportion of the strip guide rather than the coil. Since the strip guide has no sharp knifelike edges which would cut a person, the possibility of injury thereby is practically negligible.

The operation of the embodiment of the invention 7 shown in Fig. 6 is the same as that just described with one exception, namely, that the bight portion 30 will be disposed forwardly of the shaft 21 and in the direction-of winding movement. In such arrangement, the portion 31 connecting the flanges 26 engages the side wall of the can asthe winding operation proceeds and by virtue of its curvature slides thereover with a minimum of friction thereby facilitating the winding operation.

- While it is preferredto use, the device 'with the flanges 26 in engagement with the wall of the can, it is also possible to use it with the free edges of the legs 27 in engagement with-the wall of the can. In, such event the guide 19 would merely be turned end for end by, for example,

rotating it through degrees from the position shown in Fig. 1. The preferred mode of operation, however, is somewhat more eifective, bothfrom the standpoint of winding and prevention of injury.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown, the invention is not to be construed as limited to the specific details illustrated and described except as included in the following claim.

I claim:' i

A strip guide permanently rotatably mounted on a slotted can opening key comprising a strip of sheet metal bent into U-shapeto provide elongated substantially parallel leg portions and a connecting bight portion, said leg portions having opposed openings therein intermediate the ends and edges thereof rotatably receiving the shaft por- 7 tion of the can opening key, and a planar flange integrally connected to adjacent edges of said legportions and to the adjacent edge of said bight portion, said flange extending laterally outward from said leg and bight portions substantially atright angles thereto the flange and the web of the metal strip'jointl'y'having an L-shaped cross-section, the flange providing bearing engagement with the surface ofacan. Y

References Cited in the file this patent UNITED ,STATES V'PATENTS 7 Great Britain June 17, 1943 

